Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump disagree on 167 break vs winning Riyadh event

There is a $1m bonus on offer at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship this week, but would players rather land the golden ball break or win the tournament?

The unique event in Saudi Arabia features the added ball, which can only be potted after a player makes a 147.

The golden ball is worth 20 points, meaning a 167 break is possible and the first player to do so lands a whopping $1m (£760,000) bonus.

There have already been two editions of this tournament and the 167 break has not been made, with John Higgins coming closest as he made 120 and broke down on the yellow.

The winner of the tournament in Riyadh gets £250,000, less than a third of the bonus on offer for the golden ball break, so would a player rather lift the trophy or be the first in history to make a 167.

Judd Trump insists he would rather leave Riyadh as the champion than with the biggest financial prize in snooker history.

‘I’d still rather win the tournament,’ said the world number one. ‘It’s a different feeling, it’s obviously special, but the feeling of winning the tournament and the confidence it would give for the UK [Championship], that would be better at this point.’

The Ace may well stand alone with that point of view, with the famed Class of 92 all more interested in potting that golden ball than adding another trophy to their bulging cabinets.

Ronnie O’Sullivan said: ‘I’d rather get the big break. I mean, I won the tournament before and it’s great to win the tournament, but to get the 167 I think that’d be amazing. An amazing achievement if anybody could do it.

‘Someone said there’s been 14 147s this year. So that’s a hell of a lot. But to get that golden ball, that’s the true test.

‘I don’t think anyone will do it, if that’s my personal opinion. I’d be happy to be wrong.’

Mark Williams made his view typically clear, saying: ‘I’d rather get a 167 first frame, pull out and go home. I hope that answers your question.’

Higgins was also somewhat surprised anyone would want the title over the bonus, saying: ‘Oh, no, no, I’d rather just win 167. 167, no, that’ll do me, that’ll do me.

‘That’s equivalent to winning three tournaments, isn’t it? Yeah, Judd will learn, I’m sure, now that he gets a bit older. No, honestly, no, the 167 will do for me. No, that’s fine.’

Asked how he would spend the enormous prize if he were to pot the golden ball, Higgins put into context how mind-blowing it would be for the amount of work it would take.

‘Oh, who knows, man,’ he said of his spending plans. ‘It would be a crazy sum of money to win, wouldn’t it? Just for 10 minutes’ work, 10 minutes out of your life.

‘Now, when you think about the World Championships, what it takes to win that, like 17 days of tortuous snooker to win half a million pounds. And then, obviously, you’ve got the Saudi ranking event here now that obviously maybe takes a little bit less stress.

‘But to actually do it in 10 or 12 minutes, win the biggest prize ever in snooker, it would be crazy.’

Trump fancies the chances of the 167 being made for the first time this week, possibly by O’Sullivan after his two 147s in the same game in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters earlier this season.

‘Last year I don’t think there were any good opportunities,’ he said. ‘With Ronnie coming in the earlier rounds this year, that gives him more opportunities. After his performance in the last Saudi tournament, getting the two 147s, there’s certainly more chance he’ll be going for it.

‘I think someone will go close this year.’

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